Gas tanker crash wreckage removed

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A Calor gas tanker which plunged 70ft (21m) onto a County Durham railway line, killing the driver, has been towed away for examination.

Peter Williams, 25, from the Darlington area, died in hospital after being thrown from the vehicle's cab at Wolsingham on Wednesday morning.

Residents of 23 homes which were evacuated have been allowed to return and an exclusion zone has been lifted.

A specialist recovery firm helped move the tanker amid fears it might explode.

The tanker made deliveries in rural areas to remote households and farms which use liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as domestic fuel.

Before decanting the gas we had to right the vehicle, something which had to be done under great control Chris Hockaday, County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service

The vehicle, a smaller version of a petrol tanker, was thought to have been carrying about 13,000 litres of LPG when it careered off the winding country road and crashed through a bridge.

Mr Williams was airlifted to Newcastle General Hospital where he was due to undergo surgery.

Following the evacuation of Wolsingham homes and a caravan park, the tanker was pulled upright and the gas decanted into another vehicle.

Chris Hockaday, from the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The decanting finished at about 10pm and the tanker was then dragged along the track by a tractor, where it was lifted onto another vehicle by the specialist recovery company.

The tanker smashed through a wall and plunged down an embankment

"It was then moved to a secure site for examination. The authorities left the scene at about midnight.

"Before decanting the gas we had to right the vehicle, something which had to be done under great control in an operation which took about two hours."

The Environment Agency had been alerted in case any diesel from the tanker leaked into the nearby River Wear.

The Weardale Railway, which runs steam trains on a five-mile stretch of restored track between Stanhope and Wolsingham Station, remains closed.

Road closed

Speaking on Thursday morning, Steve Raine, the railway's managing director said: "The tanker was moved late last night so we haven't yet been able to properly examine the track.

"However, the damage appears to be quite light and we're hoping we can get that fixed today.

"We'll work with the council to secure the collapsed wall and hopefully we'll be running trains tomorrow, but it's more likely to be Saturday."

The town's main road - the A689 - is unaffected by the crash but The Causeway route is likely to be closed until Saturday.

In May, a van containing gas cylinders exploded in Wolsingham's market place, killing the driver and causing widespread damage to homes and businesses.